49 



plumage, and so late in the spring appearing again on the south- 

 eastern shores ; but no light appears to have been thrown on this 

 singular apparent double migration. I have seen Sanderlings 

 till June 4 on the Solway shores, and just before that time they 

 are often flying in flocks with pale-coloured Dunlins ; whilst the 

 rich-coloured Dunlins have eggs at a very short distance. These 

 Dunlins have black breasts, but the backs show little red, though 

 the birds are in summer plumage. The young Sanderlings are 

 most common on this coast in late August and early September ; 

 the flocks after this appear to continue their migration. 



Newcastle-on-Tyne, Jan. 1, 1877, C. M. ADAMSON. 



Since this was written I have reason to believe some Knots and Common 

 Godwits do not acquire any red or breeding plumage the summer after being 

 hatched, but occasionally remain on or visit our shores during the summer 

 months with white breasts. 



THE SAKDERLLNX}. 



(Reprinted from " The Field" Newspaper, August 23rd, 1862.) 



I see in The Field a notice of the occurrence of a bird called a 

 Sanderling near Sutton Park, and some remarks on its habits, etc. 

 Without questioning the power of the bird to either swim or dive 

 in cases of emergency, I think some doubt exists whether some 

 other bird has not been mistaken for it. The Sanderling is, I 

 believe, one of the birds whose breeding-places in Europe are yet 

 unknown to us. It is absent from our island perhaps as short a 

 time as any of our migratory birds. I have noticed their first 

 appearance on the Northumberland coast as early as the 31st 

 July. Those which come so early are old birds, in summer plum- 

 age much faded, having the bare places on their breasts showing 

 they had bred that season, and commencing to get some of the 

 ash-coloured feathers of winter on their backs. Some small flocks 

 of old birds arrive during August ; they do not seem to remain 

 long, as old birds are seldom seen a little later in the season. Ey 

 September the young birds arrive in flocks; by October some 



